We Want More Carbon!

July 26th, 2023 - Big Picture Ranch Newsletter - 4 minute read

Yes, you read that right: we want more carbon! In the soil, that is.

We hear so much about carbon: carbon dioxide, carbon offsets, carbon sequestration, carbon emissions, carbon credits, carbon footprint…

Carbon is the 21st century’s bad word. It's this decade's hot button; it's the forbidden element.

But carbon isn't inherently bad. Carbon is essential to life! It forms the backbone of organic molecules that make up living organisms.

In fact, there is carbon in everything in this photo taken while shooting Common Ground:

So we should refrain from saying that there's “too much Carbon”; rather, the problem lies in its distribution and form.

We have too much carbon in our atmosphere as CO2 and CH4 (produced predominantly by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation), leading to global warming.

But we don't have enough carbon in places where it could be beneficial, like in the soil where it can improve soil fertility and sequester carbon.

That's right, more carbon in the soil actually helps sequester even more carbon. Common Ground explains everything.

Regenerative agriculture transforms farms into carbon sinks, stabilizing the climate and enhancing ecosystem health. Carbon sequestration is only a byproduct of regenerative agriculture, but it is a very important one.

Carbon Sequestration is Key to Healthy Soil and Healthy Planet (from Kiss The Ground Movie)

The soil’s storage capacity is influenced by soil type, climate, vegetation. But importantly land use practices and soil management practices can also greatly influence a soil's capacity to store carbon.

Practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage, and organic farming can enhance soil carbon storage. The addition of organic matter (compost, manure, etc.) also increases the carbon content of the soil.

Conversely, intensive farming methods can lead to the loss of soil carbon. For instance, tilling vastly reduces the soil's ability to pull in carbon.

Farming can help achieve climate stability

1. NO TILLING

By preserving underground mycorrhizal networks, we let the soil use its pre-existing carbon highways instead of forcing it to rebuild the entire ecosystems every year.

2. COVER CROPS

Simply by planting cover crops, we are planting more photosynthesizing organisms that will take carbon out of the atmosphere.

3. NO CHEMICALS

The production, transport, and use of chemical fertilizers and other toxic chemicals exudes enormous quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Simply not using them allows us to stop contributing to that toxic chain of production and spraying.

4. PLANNED GRAZING

Animals help a farmer increases their Soil Organic Matter (SOM), which is basically ‘carbon content’. It is an excellent indicator of soil health. High SOM levels mean more nutrients, better water retention, and, importantly, more carbon storage.

These regenerative practices, which we discussed in our previous newsletter, contribute to building SOM. The healthier the soil, the more carbon it can sequester. Leah Penniman and Gabe Brown can attest!

SOIL SUCCESS STORIES

The Rodale Institute, a leader in organic farming research, advocates for regenerative agriculture as a climate solution.

According to their research, if all global crop land transitioned to regenerative organic practices, it could sequester more than 100% of our current CO2 emissions.

Net zero carbon emissions to net zero? That sounds really good!

Beyond the tremendous environmental benefits, there's an emerging economic opportunity in carbon sequestration - carbon credits.

Farmers can now earn additional income by capturing and storing carbon in their soils, because companies looking to offset their carbon footprints purchase these credits. The carbon market is an innovative way to incentivize more sustainable farming and combat climate change.

8 BENEFITS FOR THE SOIL

In Conclusion

Carbon is good when it's in the soil, and using regenerative agriculture we can help the soil absorb more of it. Upgrading our current agricultural system to prioritize soil health will help us stabilize the climate because healthy soils, and healthy underground mycorrhizal networks, sequester tremendous amounts of carbon.

Coupled with emerging carbon credit markets, the transition to regenerative agriculture becomes not only an environmentally sound choice, but also an economically viable one.

Thank you for your continued support as we move forward in our journey towards sustainable farming and a healthier planet.

With gratitude,

Rebecca and Josh Tickell, and the team at Big Picture Ranch

Big Picture Ranch

For Festivals: Contact Jeffrey Winter at The Film Collaborative at [email protected]

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